GKOUSE SHOOTING. 27 



for the most part, all the year round. In frost and 

 snow they are occasionally found among the " stooks" 

 of oats, which, there, often lie out till Christmas. 



You are not to count on this wild mountain sport, 

 young shooter, as an achievement to be compassed 

 without earnest exertion ; what then ? 



" Though sluggards deem it but a foolish chase, 



And marvel men should quit their easy chair, 

 The toilsome way, and long, long league to trace 



Oh ! there is sweetness in the mountain air, 

 And life, which bloated ease can never hope to share ! " 



As Byron says " never mind the pain," your delight 

 will "physic it;" which, according to Shakspere, 

 means, will "cure it:" wherefore we take it " doc- 

 toring" was a very different affair a couple of cen- 

 turies ago from what it is now. Let your care be 

 for your dog and your gun. If you will take our 

 counsel, your dogs shall be pointers ; and use all 

 zeal, and the experience of older heads than your 

 own, in their selection. Have a horror of near 

 rangers; they are the very worst of all for moor- 

 shooting. Of these that is, pointers hunt a 

 brace at a time, it will be quite enough. Before 

 buying your dogs see that they have round, hard 

 feet, and are well "hung" upon their legs, to 

 borrow an expression from the coach-maker's vo- 

 cabulary. Above all, look to the head " the know- 

 ledge-box," as it is vulgarly, but most aptly, called. It 

 ought to be broad between the ears, which should 

 hang down close, with a fall or dent under the eyes ; 



